Heat exchanger



LIFH 9, H929. J. p, RATHBUN JSJB HEAT EXCHANGER Filed oct. 2s. 1927 um," m4,

ATTORNEY lfu-thermore, in exchangers of the movable.` a hea' er type, itis desirable to havemeans` 55 vmade for removing the air bames with rameau Apes, teas.

f uur-Tan sTaTas 'tatami A PATENT oTTTca.

JOHN P. RATHB'UN, `OF MOORE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T-OJWESTINGHOUSE ELEC- TRIO & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PQENNSYLVANIA.

HEAT E xoiaauenn.

Application lei October 28, 1927. Serial No. ZZSAILLHUSSUE@ My invention relates to tubularheat ex.

' eous media to the/:ur removal connection and changers such as surface condensers, liquid heaters, coolers, and the like, and 1t has for an :object to improve the construction of ap 5 paratus of this class. I

In the operation of heat exchange apparatus of the type described, it becomes necessary from time to time to remove the tube bundle for inspection, cleaning, repairs, orl the like, and for these purposes, it is desirable that the tubebundle be removable as a unit.

Heretofore, the removal vof the tube bundle from heat exchangers of this class has'been attended with considerable inconvenience,

particularly with l condenser type heaters, due largely to the arrangement ofthe air baiiies.

These baiiies are employed for the purpose of providing a separate cooling zone throughr .which air and other uncondensed media may I. 2o passprevious to removal through the air removal connection.

J Such baiiies are commonly securedto t-he shell ofthe exchanger,.above the air removal connection, and extend into the nest of tubes so as to compel gaseous media to pass through the nest. and around the end-.of the battle, and thus, to ensure maximum heat transfer and fto prevent gaseous media from by-passingl around some of thetubes and along a wall 3o of the shell to the removal connection. Since these battles extend into'l the nest between the tube sheets and the tube supports, the tube bundle cannot be removed as a unit unless some provision is made for taking the baiiles 5 out of the way, or for removing them With the Itube bundle. The problem of removing the battles with the tube, bundleis further complicated by the possibility of having a loose joint between the shell and the baille,

40 which would permit 'the by-passing of gas.

eous media from the inlet of the shell directly to the airv removal connection, thus short. circuiting some of the tubes.

.which will relieve the tubes of the-bending stresses due tothe weight of the bundle and at the Sametime will not interfere-with the expansion and contraction of the tubes.V

tubes and for preventing by-passing of gasvvertical type heat exchanger with the tubes removed; and,

Fig, 4 is a'transve'rse section along the line IV-IV of'Fig. 3.

According to my invention, the air batlles are secured to the tube sheets and to the tube supports, and means are provided for maintaining a hydrbstatic seal between the battles and the shell of the exchanger, so as to preventv by-passing of gaseous media to the "air removal connection. The hydrostatic seal is automatically formed and thus, it is unnecessary t'o loosen any bolts or vother connections before removing 'the battles with the tube bundle.

I also provide stays of suhcient rigidity to revent flexure of theltubes dueto the Weight of the tube bundle', and the stays which are secured to the movable header are provided with extensible portionswhich do not interfere with their rigidity.

, Referring now to the drawings for a betf te;l understanding of my invention, in Figs.

1 and 2, I show a multi-pass, condenser type heater indicatedgenerally at 10, and comprising a shell 11, having an inlet for gaseous media at 12, anl outlet for condensate at 13,

'and an air and non-condensable gas outlet at 14:. Extending longitudinally within the 'shell 11 is a nest of'tubes 16, vthe latter being rovided with a fixedtubesheet 17 which is disposed adjacent the inlet andy discharge lWater box 18, and a movable tube sheet 19 for the other' end of the nest. A return header 21 is secured to the movable tube sheet 19 in any approved manner, and a cover 22 is may also arrange a's'uitable tube support 23 intermediate thetube sheets for preventing the tubes from sagging, and it will be-understood that while I have lshown only one, tube 10a i provided for closing this end of the shell. I

support, that more than one may be provided, as conditions may require.

l alsotprovidemeans for enclosing some of the tubes in a separate cooling chamber for cooling air and other non-condensable, or uncondensed gases previous to their removal through the air removal connection 14. rlhe portion of this chamber which extends between the tube'support 23 and the fixed tube sheet 17 is formed of a horizontal baille member 26, which extends transversely into the tube nest and is joined longitudinallyto a substantially vertical baille member27, which is disposed above the condensate outlet 13 and extends from the bottom of the shell upwardly. Along the upper portion of the vertical baille member 27 ll provide suitable ports 28, for passing gaseous media therethrough.

Disposed adjacent the'shell and above the air outlet 14 is an inclined baille 29, which has its upper edge secured to the outer portion of thehorizontal baille A26, and adjacent its upper edge, the inclined baille 29 is provided witha suitable number of ports 31, for passing gaseous media therethrough. The ports 31 are thus disposed, in an etlset relaftion with respect to the air outlet 14, for the purpose of preventing condensate from falling directly through these ports and into the outlet connection 14. Likewise, it will be observed that the inclined baille 29 is so disposed as to carry condensate falling from the tubes in the cooling.- chamber to the lower portion ofthe shell, the lowermostportion of the inclined baille 29 being spaced from the vertical baille 27V so as to provide a passage for such condensate, directly to vthe condensate outlet 13. c

rlhe bailles 26, 27 and 29 `are secured to thev tube support 23 and to the tube sheet 17 by means of suitable clips, or the like, 32 so that they may beremovable with the tube bundle.

llin order to prevent gaseous media from bypassing around the outer end of the horizontal baille 26, ll bend the outer portion of this baille slightly downwardly and place' an angle iron 33 along the side of the shell, below the outer inclined portion of the horizontal bame 26 andspaced slightly therefrom, so as to permit condensate which `passes along this side of the shell to form a liquid seal at feo - 34, between the horizontal bame and the shell.

'llhe inclined baille 29 also has its lowermost edge bent downwardly so that it may form a similar seal at 35, with the longitudinally disposed angle, or the like, 36. rllhus, it will be seen ftha,t these liquid seals 34 and 35, together with the inclined bale 29, the ports therein' and the sidev of the shell define a passage from the'cooling chamber to the outlet 14.

lln order to ,revent lieluid media, such as condensate, 'v1 ich may pass through\ the liquid seal. 34, from entering the, air ,outlet moebel 14, a longitudinally disposed angle 36 is secured to the shell above this outlet connection. This angle 36 preferably extends for a distance suilicient to cause a liquid flowing ".ber (notshown), which are similar in all respects to those inst described, with the exception that provision is made for making these baille members extensible, so that they may lengthen and shorten in response to expansions and contractions of the tube nest. These means comprise brackets 37 which are secured to the movable tube sheet 19 and carry suitable bolts, orrivets 38 which extend through slots 39 in the respective baille members, and thus permit these members to change their length, and prevent deilection.

ln order to provide further support for `the tubes, and to maintain the tube support.

23 in proper positionwith respectto the tube sheets, I employ a suitable number of rigid stay members 40 between the tube support 23 and the rigi'dtube sheet 17, and a like number of extensible stay members 41 between the movable tube sheet 19 and the tube support 23. The extensible stay members are similar to the extensible baille members, brackets 37 being secured to the tube sheet 19 and bolts,

or the like, 42, carried by the extensible members 41, extended through slots 43 in the brackets 37 and thus permit these members to lengthen and shorten, and at the same time,

a fairly rigid structure is provided for preventing undue saggingand consequent bending stresses in the tubes.

In order to provide for readily inserting and removing the tube bundle from the shell, 1 arrange longitudinally extending angles 44 alongthe inner sides of the shell so as to provide ways upon which the tube support 23v and the movable tube sheet Y, 19 may ride. Under some conditions of service, these ways are aptto become sufficiently corroded to deprive the'tube bundle of the desired freedom of movement. To avoid this condition, ll dispose suitable rollers 46 on the tube sheet 19 and on the tube support 23 for reducing the friction, so that the tube bundle may be removed with a minimum of e'ort. lt willbe understood; however, that these rollers 46 may be omitted and that merely notches or the like may be provided on the tube support 23 and the movable tube sheet 19 so as to permit these menbers to slide along the ways 44.'

lln the operation of the apparatus thus far agroaofsi described, should it be desired for any reason i to remove the tube bundle, it is merely necessary to remove the inlet water box 18 and to disconnect the rigid tube sheet 17 from the shell. This being done, the bundle may be slid along the ways 44 and removed from the shell as a unit, the various baiiies 26, 27 and 29, together with the stay members and 41 being removed with the bundle. When the bundle is again inserted in the shell, it Will be observed that it is unnecessary to make any threaded connections, or adjustments, and that the liquid seals are automatically formed as soon `as operation of the heater is resumed.

ln Figs. 3 and 4, l show a verticaltype' heater 50, embodying a'modied form of my invention. llri Ia vertical type heater, itais, of course, unnecessary to provide ways such as are provided by the angle irons 44 in Figs. l

and 2 for supporting the movable tube sheet 19 and' the intermediate tube support 23. ln this form of my invention, l dispensewith the liquid seals and provide an air and noncondensabley gas outlet 51, which extends through ithe inlet anddischarge water box 52. The cooling chamber is formed by baffles 26, 27" an '29, respectively, 4which are similar to the baffles 26, 27 and 28,. described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, with the exception that no ports are xprovidedpin these baliies, and that the adjacent end portions of the battles 27 and 29l are spaced apart so as-to provide the passage for gaseous media.l v

ln this latter form of my invention, it will b e understood that any tube support pla-tes, which may be used, will be provided with suitable ports so as to aord communication throughout Tthe lenvth of the c ooling cham-Y ber formed by the' ailles 26,` 27( and 29,

- respectively,'sothat air andother non-con- 'densable gases may be removed from all portions of the shell through the connection 51.

The shell is provided with any suitable condensate outlet 5,3 and with an inlet for gaseous media 54. lln all'other respects, the heat exchanger shown in Figs. '3- and 4 is similar tothatdescribedwith reference to .Figs.1 and2. ,y

flo remove the tube bundle from the heater,

it is merely vnecessaryftoloosen the'rigid tubev sheet 56 from the shell. The air outletljbe- I mg formed in the water box 52, it 'is assured that there can be no leak which would permit by-passlng of gaseous-media from within the shell to this outlet. In this form of my invention, as well as in that .shown in llligs. 1 l and 2, the balies need not be disconnected from the tube plates.

' It will readily beseen, therefore, thatill ave provided a tubular heat 'exchanger' which is so constructed vas to permit the tube -bundle to be withdrawn or.` inserted with a minimum of Veortiand inconvenience. The

liquid seals around the air and non-condensable gas outlet and cooling chamber are autothea-rt that it is not so limited,'but is susccpv tible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthcre of, and ll desire, therefore, that nly'suchl limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically f set Jforth in the appended claims.

What l claim is 1. rllhe combination with a heat exchanger comprising a shell having an inlet, and a nest of tubes Within the shell, of a baiiie extending Within the nest or tubes, and means providing a liquid seal between the balile and the shell.

2. rlhe combination with a heat exchanger comprisingashell having an inlet, and a tube bundle Within the shell, of a baiiienextending within the tube bundle `and carried thereby, and means providing a liquid seal between the baiile and the shell.

3.' 'llhe combination with a heat exchanger comprising ashellhaving an inlet, and a tube bundle within the shell, of baille means removablewith the tube bundle and providing therein a cooling chamber for air'and noncondensable gasesand means independent of said baiiie means providing an air and n on- .co' densable gasremoval connection for said cha ber'.

4. rlhe combination with a heat exchanger comprising a shell having an inlet, a nest of tubes Within the shell, a rigid tube sheet and a movable tube. sheet for the nest of`tubes, and atube support between said tube sheets, .of `b ames secured to said tube sheets and ito the tube support, and means providing a liquid Sseal between the baiies and the shell. .v

' 5, A device according to claim 4, and means I providing an extensible connection betwee ynuil the movable tube sheet and the vbame asso- 1 ciated therewith.

.com frising ashell havingan inlet, anda tube bun le Within the shell, of a bae within said f v L tube' bundle 'and having .transversely and y downwardly extending portions, means providmg passages through one of said portions of said "bae, and means providing la liquidl sealbetween one of-,said vortionsof'said bae and said shell.

7.- A heat exchangefrlcomprising a shell havl mg an inlet, a nest' df tubes within said shell, i

a transverselyex'tending bame and a substatitrallyvertlcally disposed ,bame within said nest of tubes and arranged to provide a cooling chamber, means providing a liquid seal between said transversely extending bale and said shell, means providing an air and non,- condensable gas removal'connection below said cooling chamber, an inclined baille 1nember adjacent said air and non-condensable gas removal connection, said inclined baille member being arranged to form one wall of said cooling chamber and having ports therein in offset relation with said air and non-condensable gas removal connection, and means providing a liquid seal between said inclined baille member and said shell. l

8. 'lhe combination with a heat exchanger comprising a shell having an inlet and an air and non-condensable gas outlet and an outlet for condensate, and a liest ol' tubes within the shell, of a baille extending? horizontally into said nest above said air and non-condensable gas outlet, a baille extending substantially vertically into said nest above said condensate outlet and joined to said horizontally extending baille, an inclined baille above said air and non-condensable gas outlet and having the lower end thereot` spaced from said vertically extending baille to provide a passage to said condensate outlet, and means providing liquid seals between said horizontally extending baffle and said. shell and between said inclined baille and saidshell, said vertically extending baille and said inclined bal'lle having ports therein for the passage of gaseous media.

. 9. A device according to claim 8,' and means on said shell independent ol said aforemen- -tio'ned` ballles for preventing liquid media from passing4 from said shell through said air and non-condensable gas outlet.

l0. Ag'device according to cla-im 8, and means for permitting the removal of said ballles and said tube l'rom said shell as a unit. ll. ',lhe combination with a heat exchanger comprising a shell having an inlet and a condensate outlet and an air and noncondensable gas outlet, and a nest of tubes within the shell, ot means for enclosing a portion of said tube nest into ase'parate compartment, and means including liquid seals lor defining a passage from said compartment. to said air and non-condensable gas outlet.

lin testimony whereof, l have hereunto subi scribed my name this 18th day ol October, 1927.

JOHN l?. RATHBUN. 

